“who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,”
— WEB
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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.
“who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,”
— WEB
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
— KJV
“who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,”
— ASV
Who . . . called us--namely, God the Father (Gal 1:6). The having "saved us" in His eternal purpose of "grace, given us in Christ before the world began," precedes his actual "calling" of us in due time with a call made effective to us by the Holy Spirit; therefore, "saved us" comes before "called us" (Rom 8:28-30). holy calling--the actual call to a life of holiness. Heb 3:1, "heavenly calling" [TITTMANN, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]; whereas we were sinners and enemies (Eph 1:18; Eph 4:1). The call comes wholly from God and claims us wholly for God. "Holy" implies the separation of believers from the rest of the world unto God. not according to--not having regard to our works in His election and calling of grace (Rom 9:11; Eph 2:8-9). his own purpose--The origination of salvation was of His own purpose, flowing from His own goodness, not for works of ours coming first, but wholly because of His own gratuitous, electing love [THEODORET and CALVIN]. grace . . . given us--in His everlasting purpose, regarded as the same as when actually accomplished in due time. in Christ--believers being regarded by God as IN HIM, with whom the Father makes the covenant of salvation (Eph 1:4; Eph 3:11). before the world began--Greek, "before the times (periods) of ages"; the enduring ages of which no end is contemplated (Co1 2:7; Eph 3:11).
— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)
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